Community comes together to support AMIkids

Danielle’s father was in and out of jail and missed every birthday she had. Jalen was what he called a “wild boy” who lost
his motivation.

Both students have begun to turn their lives around through AMIkids.

Stories like these put children on the
center stage Thursday night at the Third Annual Celebration of Children
Banquet. But
it wasn’t just the moving speeches that caught the crowd’s
attention; it was the flowing vocals and the quiet service as children
greeted guests and attended to dinner. Each student had his own
significant role to play during the banquet, held at the Historic
Calcasieu Marine Bank Building.

“It’s important to be able to hear kids’ stories and understand the adversity they’ve overcome,” said Melinda Coats, vice
president for resource development for AMIkids. “AMIkids provides an invaluable service to this community with education,
behavior modification and treatment they need to move forward.”

This year’s event was held to raise
money for the AMIkids Southwest Louisiana program — a non-profit
dedicated to helping
troubled youth. The program offers day treatment sessions for
children who have been adjudicated by a court for misdemeanors
or who faced issues such as school expulsion.

The funds from the banquet come at an important time as state resources were cut from the program. Board members said budget
cuts have forced several AMIkids programs across the state to close. However, the local program has stayed open, providing
at-risk children with support to keep them in school and prevent further issues.

Along with those in AMIkids, other banquet participants were children who turned their lives around before ending up in the
program and students acting as mentors to other students.

A group from Oak Park Middle School spoke to the audience about AMIkids Southwest Board President Willie King visiting their
classroom to encourage them academically and personally. Though not in AMI, they said their lives were positively changed
because an adult took the time to teach them about making right decisions.

“It’s important because people get to see us shine and see what we do in life and how we will succeed,” Oak Park student Damali
Williams said.

Students spoke about how they ended up
in the program and what positive adult role models can do. Kearrius
McGuire’s story
began when he was kicked out of school in seventh grade. He spent
several years in and out of school and a career center where
he was expelled. After entering the AMIkids program in October, he
is back on the honor roll with a new attitude.

“My last decision was AMIkids,” he said. “I knew it was going to make a change for me and that it was my last chance.”

Students also shared stories about their various struggles, from losing parents to falling in with the wrong crowds. The stories
followed a similar route — they made wrong decisions but they were all making a choice for a better future.

Danielle Fontenot, a 10th-grader, said she did not want to end up in jail like her father. She told the audience about her
goal to get out of AMIkids, return to school and eventually be a veterinarian or an artist.

Renee’ Plumber, whose mother died when she was 9 months old, said AMI made a difference by helping her become more respectful
and find a direction in life.

“These children are human, they have made some errors just like everybody else,” King said. “We’re just standing in the gap
and saying here’s a second chance to tell your story.”

King said about $13,000 was raised at the banquet. At the end of the night, students led by various adult mentors filed through
the building — a reflection that children do follow and look up to their elders in the decisions they make